Sheet-metal seam.



No. 147,970. PATBNIED 11120.29, 190a.

.R. HAWKINS.

SHEET METAL SEAM.

APPLIUATIOH-IILED MAY 25, 1903.

K0 MODEL.

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2A I I/ m: uonms FETERS co. moroirma. wasumsmu, D c.

- UNITED STATES Patented. December 29, 1903.

ROLLYN HAWKINS, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

SHEET-METAL SEA lVI.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 747,970, dated December 29, 1903.

Application filed May 25, 1903. Serial No. 158,727. (No model.)

T0 to whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RoLLYN HAWKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion andState of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet-Metal Seams, of which the following is a specification.

The object of thisinvention is to facilitate the soldering of the seams which unite the edges of metal sheets, wherein the edges of each sheet at the joints are folded over. and the folded portions interlocked; and the invention has special reference to the joining together of metal sheets for roof-covers, gutters, valleys, flashings, and thelike; but it is equally applicable to all other purposes for which metal joints having a compound fold are or may be used.

The difiiculty heretofore has been to get the solder when introduced at one edge of.

the joint to permeate between all of the several laps, so as tothoroughly unite the parts of the seam and prevent their breaking by expansion and contraction and to prevent the accumulation of' moisture in the seam or un-- to solder the second edge in melting-out the solder which had been applied to the first; and the prime object of my invention is to cause the solder when applied to one edge of a seam to permeate all of the foldsof that joint.

I accomplish the objects of the invention by the mechanism illustrated in the accolm panying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a detail in plan view of a blank used in carrying out-my invention; Fig. 2, the same with the edge to be joined folded over; Fig. 3,,a like view of the reverse side of the blank shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a perspective view of two metal sheets joined by means of my improved scam, the sheets being broken away in part along the seam to more fully show the construction of the joint; and Fig. 5, a blank showing a modified form of perforation.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

A A represent sheets of any kind of metal such as is suitable for the purposes for which the metal is to be used. The edgesa of the sheets will be folded over along the dotted line 0 into parallel position with thebody of the sheet; but before this is done the edge will be provided with the notches d, preferably angular in shape,as shown,which notches extend inwardly slightly past the line of the fold c. The folds a and b of the edges of two sheets to be joined will be hooked or fitted together in the manner shown in Fig: 4. The joints thus formed will be pressed together, and heated solder will then be applied in the usual manner along the notched edge, which is shown as the upper edge in Fig. 4. In a. joint without the notches the solder will enter freely between the lower member or plate and the fold above. It will pass the first bendin the fold with diflic'ulty, and at the second bend little or-none of the solder will pass; but with the perforations formed by and freely between all of the members of the seam,and the broad mouth of the notch,which opens toward the back of the seam when the parts are assembled, provides a conduit and pocket for the liberal flow and deposit of the solder.

While the notches above described are preferable,- itis obvious that any shape of perforation'placed at the line of the bond will be operativesuch,'for example, as the circular perforations 6, (shown in the modification at Fig. 5)and I therefore do not desire to limit my invention to the form shown or to a perforation of any particular shape or size or to any certain numbenwithin a given distance.

It is not desired to limit the invention to a joint having the number of folds shown in the notches d the solder will enter at once the drawings and above described, as it is applicable to joints having many or few folds.

. Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and wish to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A folded seam for metallic sheets having having indents extending from an edge to a openings at the bend of a fold for the passage point inside of the line of the fold for the inof solder therethro'ugh. trod notion of solder between all members of 15 2. A seam for metallic sheets, formed by the folds. folding the edges of two portions of metal and In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my interlocking the folded portions, the sheets hand and seal, at Indianapolis, Indiana, this at the bends of said folds being provided 21st day of May, A. D. 1903. with perforations through which solder is introduced between all members of the folds. ROLLYN HAWKINS 3. A seam for metallic sheets, formed by Witnesses: folding the edges of two portions of. metal and S. MAHLON UNGER, interlocking the folded portions, the sheets 1 JOHN B. SHERWOOD. 

